by C. J. Corbin
Nancy paused a moment, “That’s a good development. It sounds like he is wooing you and not just trying to get into bed with you.”
I laughed, “I think last night he was close to it though.”
She sighed on the other end of the phone. “I’m looking forward to meeting him. I can’t get up there before our road trip, darn it.”
I laughed, “You’ll just have to wait then, and trust me that I’m handling everything.”
Nancy roared with laughter, “Oh Elizabeth,” she continued to laugh, “that is not a skill I associate with you.”
I frowned at her comment but giggled anyway, “Okay, knock it off. I may not be as smooth as you are, but I do okay.”
She contained a giggle, “Okay, I’m sorry. Yes, you are one smooth operator.”
The rest of the day I spent squirreled away with my writing. By the end of the day, cabin fever started. Jason had already delivered Debi’s homemade goulash for dinner. The dogs looked lethargic and I needed to stretch my legs too. Their ears perked up when I whistled to them and they followed me out the back door quickly. Jason’s motorcycle took the place of Michael’s jeep by their back porch. Michael would be either late or staying the night in San Francisco. I had been curious about the reason for his trip, but he had not volunteered any information.
I put my ear buds in, tuned my IPod to Snow Patrol and walked to the lakeshore. The sun was starting to set. In a few weeks, the tourists would be gone and the lake would belong to us again. I could actually feel autumn coming in the air. The leaves on the trees in between the houses would soon be turning their familiar burnt orange, yellow, and red colors. This was my favorite time of the year even if it included raking leaves.
It was hard to realize that it had only been a week since I had arrived. Being in Mintock usually meant quiet time, a time to get away, to concentrate on my work, and enjoy friends. Instead the past week had been a whirlwind all surrounding Michael. He was a man that took a lot of energy, but then so did Kevin. I shook off the thought. I did not want Kevin to invade my thoughts again; there would be no good coming from that direction.
Caesar had been correct. I was happy. In one week, I became happy. Had Michael done that? My book was on its way and the writing was flowing well. Was the happiness responsible?
The dogs and I turned away from the cabin. We started a slow jog. Angel came out on her porch and waved. I waved back but continued to run. I was not in the mood for conversation tonight.
After arriving back home, I popped the goulash into the microwave oven and heated up the homemade rolls in the oven. Not too pathetic of a cook, I made my own salad. As soon dinner was prepared for the dogs, I ate at the dining room table while reading the paper. I continued to write through the evening. It was well after midnight by the time I shut the computer down. While taking out the trash, I noticed Michael had not yet returned. Still parked by the porch was Jason’s motorcycle. My eyebrows raised and then I chastised myself for being a nosey neighbor. Tammy was over eighteen and what she did was her own business, I was not her mother.
Tuesday was a repeat of Monday. Although when I took the dogs for their jog in the evening, Michael’s jeep was back. Seeing the jeep made my heart leap a little. I rolled my eyes. Why was seeing his jeep would making me happy? I was being silly. The run with the dogs tonight though was lighter and taken at a brisker pace. Looking forward to seeing all three of my next-door neighbors tomorrow, I realized that I had missed interacting with them. Maybe I was a little lonely too. Yes, that was it. The cabin had held me captive too long. It was definitely cabin fever. Of course, the remedy was easy if that was the cause, I could visit Debi or Angel. I did not want to.
I awoke early Wednesday morning with a sense of excitement. Day was ready to break. I put on my sweats and decided not to jog with the dogs. I did not want the distraction of the dogs. I wanted to run. The morning was still cool and the wind against my face felt good. I ran faster than I normally would and the first two and half miles came quickly. When I turned to go back home I slowed down to my regular pace.
Michael was sitting on the dock facing toward me. It appeared that he was waiting for me and I smiled at the thought. He lifted up his thermos when he saw me and waved me over. The dock swayed as I walked up to him.
He smiled at me. “You ran fast, I almost couldn’t make the coffee in time.” Michael said as he poured a cup for me.
“Thanks,” I said as I sat down opposite him. “This is a nice surprise.”
“I like to watch the dawn too. Especially out here, it’s so quiet.”
“Are the girls up yet?” I asked taking the mug he offered.
Michael laughed, “No,” he said with emphasis and he leaned back against the pylon with his legs stretched out. “They usually don’t see much of the dawn. Especially when they are on vacation, they are very similar when it comes to that.”
Michael wore an old San Francisco Giants t-shirt and jeans torn at both knees, both had seen better days. He looked incredibly sexy with his day old beard and disheveled hair, as if he has just crawled out of bed. His feet were bare, and I found myself looking at his feet. His feet like the rest of him were long. I had the strangest urge to play “this little piggy” with his toes. I smiled.
Michael asked, “What are you smiling about? My feet?”
I blushed and shook my head, “Nothing.”
“No, it was something. It was about my big feet. You know what they say, big feet…,” he trailed off with a big grin on his face showing his deep dimples.
I answered him, “Yeah, big shoes.” I laughed still blushing at the innuendo even though I tried not to.
He laughed with me, “Oh you’ve heard that one.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that one.” I tried to change the subject. “So how was your appointment in San Francisco?”
“Good, actually better than I thought. I had to meet with my ex-wife, and our lawyers, and a judge.” He answered.
Deciding to pry, I asked, “Nothing too serious I hope.”
Michael’s face looked disgusted. He took a drink from his coffee mug before he replied, “No, she only wanted more money. Our agreement was that I would support her until Tammy turned eighteen. Then the support would stop. She wanted to change the agreement. She felt it was too harsh to just turn off the money.”
I wrinkled my forehead, “So you had custody of the girls, and she didn’t pay you support?”
He shook his head, “No that was one of the stipulations of me getting the girls. Maggie got it all, the house, and all the money, everything except the girls. I agreed to pay her support for 6 years, to help her go back to school and get herself set up.” He smiled quietly. “I figured I got the best of the deal. My lawyer got me exactly what I wanted.”
I looked at Michael with surprise on my face. His devotion to his daughters was so strong that he gave up everything for them.
“It was difficult for the three of us when we first started on our own.” He admitted. “I was astonished that Maggie could cut herself off so completely from the girls. Her visits and calls became less frequent. I tried to be there for my girls, but I know it must have hurt them deeply.” His voice grew softer and filled with pain, and that ache showed on his face.
“What did you do? I mean, you had to make a living, especially if you had to pay your ex-wife.” I asked my voice filled with incredulity. I wanted to reach out, to hold him if just to wipe the hurt from his face.
His voice became bitter, “Yeah, especially when she regularly threatened me that she would take the girls back if I didn’t pay her on time. My little sister rescued us. She is a saint. Christina is financially well off, she had a big house in Oakland and she let us move in with her. She had recently divorced too and said she was lonely. I don’t know what we would have done without her.”
I thought he wanted to tell me, so I pressed him to continue. “How did you work trying to raise your two girls alone?”
Michael’s face brig
htened. “Very creatively. I took shorter trips. Christina was there in the evenings when I was gone. I worked on my books more. I took the girls with me when they had breaks from school. Christina actually went with us too.” He laughed and his eyes sparkled again. “Remind me to tell you those stories sometimes. Christina is not the most graceful of campers.”
I was glad his mood started to lift again. “So what happened yesterday? Did she get what she wanted?”
Michael shook his head laughing, “No. Just the opposite, the judge thought she was just trying to grab more money, which she was,” he shrugged his shoulders. “The judge told her if she didn’t drop it, he would recommend that I go for back child support. That took the puff out of her sails.”
“Well good,” I smiled at him. “I’m glad it turned out right.”
“So am I.” He grimaced, “Though Maggie did threaten or should I say promise to visit Tammy.” He rolled his eyes upward, “That’s all I need is to deal with her.”
“I’m sure Tammy will be glad to see her.”
“Yes she will, even though she would never admit it to me. The fact that Maggie is no good for her, I know she still needs her mother.”
“I’m glad you brought that up Michael.” Inside my mind was screaming not to get involved but then when did I listen to myself so I continued. “Michael, if this is too intrusive, let me know okay? Is Tammy taking birth control?”
He looked at me with surprise on his face, “Is there a reason why you ask?”
I grimaced but plowed forward. “I noticed Jason’s motorcycle parked at your house very late Monday night, and well, I just wondered.”
Michael closed his eyes. I could not tell if he was angry or confused, or maybe a little of both. He finally let out a sigh and looked at me again, “You know I didn’t think to ask her. I just assumed that she would take care of that sort of thing herself.”
I sighed too, “Generally young girls won’t just take care of it. They’re still denying the possibility that they will have sex and then it is too late. Would you like me to talk to her?”
“I can’t ask you to do that Elizabeth, but would you? I’m afraid I’m not very good,” he shook his head, “with those types of talks. I’m afraid her mother would give her all the wrong advice too.”
I smiled, “I don’t have much experience with those types of talks either, but I guess it might be easier coming from me than from you.”
The relief showed on Michael’s face.
“I don’t mean to cut this short,” I said while standing up, “I’ve got to feed the dogs. I disappeared without giving them their breakfast. I’m sure they’re waiting by the door. Let’s meet at one for our water skiing. Okay?”
He stood up and slipped his arm around my waist while we walked back to our houses.
“Yeah, that’s good,” he answered, “I’ll tell the girls, they’re really looking forward to the skiing. In the meantime, I’m going to have a talk with Jason.”
We stopped in between our two houses and stood together, “Just don’t kill him, okay?” I said laughing.
“You know what I mean Elizabeth, they are way too young.” He said.
I nodded, “Yes, I know, but I also remember when I was eighteen too. It’s not easy, suddenly faced with all that freedom.”
I stood up on my toes, put my hand on his shoulder, and kissed him softly on the cheek. “It will be okay.”
He smiled, “Thanks.”
I wasn’t sure if he was thanking me for the kiss or the talk with Tammy, or both. I would take both. “See you later.” I said.
After feeding the dogs and showering, I sat down at my desk, and then just stared out the window, looking at nothing. Michael had distracted me. Our conversation on the dock kept replaying in my mind. His willingness to discuss his ex-wife and take me into his confidence surprised me.
The knock on the door startled me. A quick glance out the window revealed Tammy at the front door. I took a deep breath. I had gotten myself into this discussion, and it was time to face the music.
“Hey Tammy,” I said answering the door. “Come on in.”
The dogs greeted her with jumps, and she bent down and cuddled with both of them.
She straightened up. “Dad said you wanted to talk to me?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess so. Sit down, would you like a cola?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No I’m fine. Thanks.”
She sat on the couch. The dogs jumped up and laid on her. She petted them and looked at me expectantly.
I sat at the other end of the couch. “So, Jason was over pretty late night before last, wasn’t he?”
Tammy looked at me, and her eyes grew wide. Redness crept slowly on her face. “We didn’t do anything, really. He just stayed a little late. Dad knows doesn’t he?” Tears started to well up in her eyes.
I scooted next to her and put my arm around her shoulder. “Tammy there is no reason to get upset.” My own emotions were getting to me. I felt fury with her mother. She should be here with her arm around her talking her through this. “Have you slept with Jason?” I asked softly.
Tammy shook her head and buried her face in her hands. “No. We’re not doing anything like that.”
I tried to modulate my voice so that it would be even and not accusatory, “Do you think you might?”
She looked up at me her face was beet red, “Oh Elizabeth, I don’t know. I really like him but I know he’s going away to school and I’m probably going away to school. It’s all very complicated.” She clasped her hands tightly in her lap.
Memories of my own talk with my mother flashed back to me. The mortification I felt when she first talked to me about going on birth control. I was Tammy’s age and in much of the same situation. Had my mother felt the same as I did now talking with Tammy? It was awkward as heck and never in a million years did I ever expect to be having a talk like this. I blew out a deep breath, “When you’re with him, how do you feel?”
She looked down again at her hands in her lap, “What do you mean? I like to be with him.”
I wasn’t sure how to phrase it. I looked up at the ceiling and just prayed my mother would give me the right words. I knew one thing for certain in the future. I’d keep my mouth shut and not offer advice.
“How do you feel when he kisses you?”
She giggled and looked at me with a shy look, “My stomach gets all crazy. How about yours?” Tammy giggled again, “You know when my dad kisses you?”
I laughed and then grimaced, “Okay you got me. My stomach gets all crazy too.” I shook my head, “You know what I mean.” She laughed with me. “Okay straight, you should probably go on the pill, you know, just in case.”
“You really think so?” She looked at me seriously. “I’m really not planning on sleeping with Jason.”
“Tammy, it just takes once. He’s cute and it would be very easy to give into the passion of the moment, especially when he stays late.” I frowned trying to give off an older wiser sister look.
Tammy pondered what I had said for a moment and I remained quiet. Finally, she looked back at me. “Would you go with me? I mean to the doctor.”
It was my turn to look relieved. I nodded, “Yes, I have a great doctor in town. She’s very good.”
Tammy nodded her head too. “Okay I’ll go. But this doesn’t mean that I’m going to sleep with Jason.”
“Of course not,” I replied. “But it will make your dad rest easier, not that you having sex is going to make him happy.”
“Well, tell him I’m not!” she said emphatically pointing at me. “By the way are you on the pill?”
“Tammy, your father and I have no intention of sleeping together. We are just friends and neighbors, nothing more.”
“I don’t know,” she giggled, “what about the heat of the moment?”
“I’m not sleeping with your Dad, and we shouldn’t be talking about this.” I took a breath and exhaled heavily, “Besides, I can’t get pregnant.”<
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“Oh,” she said, “I’m sorry. Is that why you and your husband didn’t have kids?”
I looked straight ahead trying to focus, and felt the sadness wash over me. “Yeah, that’s why. I don’t think Kevin wanted kids anyway, he certainly wasn’t unhappy when it was confirmed that I couldn’t get pregnant.” I looked back at her. “Enough about me. I’ll make an appointment for you, okay?”
We finished the conversation with big hugs. She looked like she was going to cry again when our hug ended, but I rose from the couch and went over to my desk to give her a little time to compose herself. My writing was finished for the day, so I switched off the computer and invited Tammy to stay for a pizza and salad lunch. Katy came over to join us, but Michael was on a conference call and said he would meet us at the boat when we were ready to go skiing.
After we finished eating, we changed into our bathing suits. I was in the mood to entice Michael after our morning coffee. My one-piece black suit adorned with small red dots was almost backless. The material just barely covered my butt and the French cut legs rode high up to my hips. On the front, a V plunged down my middle exposing my belly button. If I tied the halter tightly around my neck, my breasts would remain covered while I skied. If not, then everyone on Lake Mintock would be in for quite the show.
The girls helped me carry the skis to the boat. Michael met us out on the dock. He was shirtless and had his bathing suit on. I was suddenly happy that I would be able to stare at his bare chest all afternoon without anyone thinking there was anything odd about me. While we loaded the boat, the towels came up missing and the girls made a quick trip back to the cabin to retrieve them.
Standing on the dock, he handed his sunscreen to me. “Would you do the honors?” he asked pointing to his back. The blushes were rising on my face and he grinned.
“Yeah sure, turn around.” I said squeezing out a small amount of the sunscreen into my palm and touching his back. He winced with the coolness of the sunscreen. “Sorry,” I said, “should have warmed it up in my hands first.”
I smoothed the sunscreen on his back. I was about to swoon. His back was smooth under my hands, and his hard muscles were responding to my touches. Michael wore his suit low on his hips like he wore his jeans. I could almost see myself wrapping my arms around his waist, closing my eyes, and resting my cheek on his shoulder. I didn’t succumb to the vision. He stood very still while I rubbed his back. I wished I could see his facial expression. I could not draw the moment out any longer.
